Delhi area to have 'Car Free Day' on October 22

Delhi Transport Minister Gopal Rai on Tuesday said the transport department plans to observe 'Car Free Day' on one route of the city on October 22.

"We are planning to keep 'Red Fort to India Gate' stretch a car-free road on October 22. This campaign will not be limited to October only but we will observe car-free day on the 22nd date of every month," Rai said.

He was speaking at a conference "Samvaada" organised at Delhi secretariat to deliberate on issues like traffic congestion and pollution in the city.

Environment Minister Asim Ahmad Khan and senior officers of transport department, Public Works Department, Delhi Metro Rail Corporation, Delhi Traffic Police, environment department, Delhi Development Authority and other concerned agencies were present during the event.

"Government will ensure that there is no entry of cars on this stretch on 'Car Free Day'. This will surely help improve the traffic problem in the city," he said.

Rai further said that a co-ordination committee of experts would soon be formed to scrutinize the suggestions and take final call on the name of the campaign.

"We have also asked the traffic officials to identify five most traffic-congested places in the city so that we can launch the campaign from those places," he added.

Rai said the government had invited suggestions from the residents to name the campaign and government would encourage people to join the campaign in large numbers.

People can send their suggestions for the name of the campaign at gopalrai.delhi@gov.in.

The minister also instructed Delhi Transport Corporation officials to soon solve the problem of break-down of DTC buses.